Executive Summary

Our group was asked to analyze the Kodak Fun Saver single-use camera. The main objectives of this project were to analyze the components of the camera, determine their functions, and suggest improvements that can be made to the camera. Before anything else, we made some assumptions about the camera, including an estimation of the number of parts inside the camera, how the camera works, and if the camera worked at all. Then we disassembled the camera piece by piece documenting our observations and took pictures of each part in order to keep track of all of them. The approximate time for the disassembly process was about 1 hour, and was surprisingly easy because of the camera’s simple design. The disassembly process helped us to understand what was inside of the camera, and allowed us to begin to understand each components function. Also, we assumed what the manufacturing process involved in making each part was, based on any clues that we could find on the part. Most of the parts were made of plastic and manufactured by injection molding. Besides plastic, the other materials involved in the camera were metal and silicone. The use of plastic and the minimum number of parts in the camera is what makes it inexpensive, recyclable, and lightweight, which makes the camera cheap for the consumer. The reassembly process was easy given that we had all the pictures from the disassembly process. The reassembly process took us less then 1 hour. After becoming very familiar with the camera, we were able to come up with several possible improvements for the camera. This was difficult, however, because Kodak has been manufacturing single-use cameras for over 20 years, and they have managed to cut down costs in a lot of ways, which is very apparent with their current design.

Introduction

The Kodak Fun Saver single-use camera is an inexpensive means for the consumer to take pictures and is realtivly easy for the consumer to operate. It is considered easy to use because as soon as the customer has the camera in their hands, it is ready to take pictures and when they have finished the roll of film inside the camera, they simply take the entire camera to be developed and never have to deal with the film itself. The model that we evaluated for our project has built in flash capability, and can take up to 27 pictures. This model is still on the market today, and can be found in stores for an average price of only $6.50. Another large benefit of single-use cameras is their recyclability. According to Kodak's website, up to 77% of every single-use camera gets re-used. We have concluded that it is not 100% because of the film and battery in the camera, which are not re-useable after a standard useage.

Before Disassembly

Photo Direction

Image

Front

Back

Top

Bottom

As mentioned before, the primary function of the Kodak Fun Saver single-use camera is to take pictures at an affordable price. Before disassembling the camera, it worked without any problems. Based on the feel of the camera while operating, it was assumed that it is mostly a mechanical process inside of the camera, with the only exception being the electrical aspect that must be required to operate the flash. All that was needed to operate the camera was to wind the film manually and then press the button to take a picture. The film has to be wound manually to advance to the next picture because it is a way to reduce the number of accidental pictures taken, so that someone would not end up with a picture of the inside of their pocket. To activate the built in flash, the customer must hold down a button on the front of the camera for a few seconds until an indicator light lets them know that the flash is ready.

Before disassembly, we assumed there to be roughly 35 parts made of 5 distinct types of material.

Disassembly Process

The disassembly process was relativly simple because there were no fasteners inside of the camera, and the only tools that were used was a small blade and a screw driver, which was used to pry some parts off, but there were no fasteners inside of the camera at all, making for an easy disassembly. The step-by-step process for disassembling the process was as follows:

1. Using the blade of a small knife cut the adhesive paper that covers the slits/planes where the front and the back cover meet all the way around the camera.

2. Using a small slotted screw driver depress the locking mechanism that are present around the back cover.(located on the sides and the bottom of the camera)

3. Firmly hold the respected front of the camera down and slightly pull upward on the back casing. It should detach with a little bit of wiggling.

4. Clearly mark the cover Part 1 and set it off to the side.

5. Place the camera on the table flat on the front cover as to leave the newly revealed parts upward.

6. Using your thumb and index finger remove the spool for unexposed film that is located on the opposite side from the film cartridge, it is removed by pulling it upward.

7. Clearly mark the spool Part 2 and set it off to the side.

8. Using your thumb and index finger grasp and remove the film cartridge by pulling it upward.

9. Clearly mark the cartridge Part 3 and set it off to the side.

10. Next using you thumb and index finger grasp and remove the batter from holders. This is accomplished by firmly pulling upward.

11. Clearly mark the battery Part 4 and set it off to the side.

12. Now grasp the camera in both hands and rotate the camera 180 degrees as to present the front cover upward.

13. Using your thumb and index finger remove the front cover. (it should be free from the rest of the parts)

14. Clearly mark the front cover Part 5 and set it aside.

15. Using a very small set of needle nose pliers release the tension on the copper spring that is attached to the Lens base. ( this should be accomplished by slowly removing it from the hook it is attached to and slowly allowing it to recoil)

16. Clearly mark the spring Part 6 and set it aside.

17. Grasp the top and bottom of the circuit board with your thumb and index finger and pull laterally away from the camera wiggling and the circuit board will detach.

18. Clearly mark the circuit board/flash Part 7 and set it off to the side.

19. Rotate the camera 90 degrees so the viewing lens is on the top( the respective top is upward)

20. Firmly grasp the viewing lens with your thumb and index finger and firmly pull up ward and it will detach.

21. Clearly mark it Part 8 and set it off to the side.

22. Lay the camera on its respective back with the lens facing upward.

23. Rotate the lens fastener with your thumb and index finger and pull it upward.

24. Clearly mark the lens fastener Part 9 and set it aside.

25. Remove the lens by picking it up with your thumb and index finger.

26. Clearly mark the lens Part 10 and set it off with the rest of the parts.

27. Now return the camera to the respective upright position with the picture button in the upright corner.

28. Using your thumb and index finger grasp and pull upward on the gear protector/picture capture button.( being careful not to remove any other parts in this process)

29. Clearly mark the gear protector/ picture capture button Part 11 and set it aside.

30. Using your thumb and index finger remove the unexposed film counter by pulling it upward.

31. Clearly mark the counter Part 12 and set it aside.

32. Next remove the Film advancer that is located in the top right corner it is removed by pulling it upward with your thumb and index finger.

33. Clearly mark the Advancer Part 13 and set it off with the rest of the parts.

34. Using the needle nose pliers remove the film advance locking mechanism by grasping it and pulling it upward off the shaft it resides on.

35. Clearly mark the locking mechanism Part 14 and set it aside.

36. Using the pliers still remove the revolving shaft that the other peaces were located upon. This is accomplishes by simply pulling upward.

37. Clearly mark the shaft Part 15 and set it off to the side.

38. Remove the film advancer gear that pushes the film along from the back of the frame by using the pliers and pulling laterally straight back.

39. Clearly mark the gear Part 16 and set it aside.

40. Next remove the Locking Mechanism Release Lever by picking it upward with your thumb and forefinger.

41. Clearly label the Release Lever PART 17 and set it aside with the rest of the peaces.

42. Remove the resistance spring from the top corner section by grasping it with the pliers and pilling it upward.

43. Clearly mark the spring Part 18 and set it aside.

44. Return the camera to its respective back having the front face upward.

45. Remove the lens base by depressing the locking mechanisms that are located around it with the small slotted screw driver.

46. After the locking mechanisms are depressed pull upward with your thumb and index finger.

47. Clearly mark the base Part 19 and set it off to the side.

48. Remove the metal spacer that is present by grasping it with your index finger and thumb and pulling it upward.

49. Clearly mark the metal spacer Part 20 and set it aside.

50. Acknowledge the fact that there is a peace of metal jutting upward out of the top of the frame. ( for putting back together purposes) the recoil shaft

Assists in locking the film advancing mechanisms after film has advanced

File Lost

19

Lens base

1

Plastic

Injection molding

$0.10

Lens rests ontop

20

Metal spacer

1

Metal

Injection molding

$0.05

Used to help hold lens base in proper position

21

Recoil shaft

1

Metal

Injection molding

$0.05

Interacts with part 17 and helps with the locking/unlocking of winding mechanisms

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

22

Internal frame

1

Plastic

Injection molding

$0.20

Provides frame for all other components of the camera to rest on or in

Front

Back

Top

Bottom

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

For the most part, the parts in the camera were relativly cheap, which help make the single-use camera so low in price. We assumed that the largest cost item was the circuit for the flash. We made this assumption because of its complexity compared to the other parts, as well as the fact that it was one of the few parts in the camera that was not made out of plastic. The prices for the other components were assumed based on their size, relative complexity in terms of manufacturing, as well as the material that they were made out of.

Assembly Process

What Can Be Improved On Our Model

Kodak has been manufacturing single-use cameras for nearly 20 years, so they have come a long way with their cameras, and it definitely shows. Finding potential improvements for the camera was a difficult task, and we were not able to come up with any improvements to the camera structurally or in the way that it operated because Kodak has already eliminated fasteners, switched to cheap plastic materials, and have a very simple design and therefore simple production. However, here is a list of a few improvements that we think could benefit the customer.

1. Could offer more then 27 pictures so that multiple cameras would not necessarily need to be purchased for long vacations

2. Quality of single-use cameras pictures are notoriously not as sharp as regular cameras, this could be changed by offering higher speed film in the cameras, which currently is 800 speed.

3. Has a limited flash range of only 4 to 10 feet making pictures of large objects difficult, could improve this range by increasing the capacitor size in the flash circuit.

4. Because single-use cameras are very popular with vacationers, portability is an issue, and while the camera is already small in size, a belt clip attachment could benefit hikers who wish to take photographs.